The Twins have sent 23-year old lefty swinging outfielder Ben Revere to AAA. Revere played in 4 games for the Twins this year and he was 2 for 11 (.182 avgg, .364 OPS) with 1 run scored. Revere played in 117 games for the Twins last year and he was 120 of 450 (.267 avg, .619 OPS) with 56 runs scored, 0 homers, 30 RBIs and 34 stolen bases. The Twins don’t want Revere wasting away on the bench, so they sent him to AAA-ball where he can play every day. I think Revere will be back at some point in 2012, especially if a starting outfielder on the Twins gets injured.

The Minnesota Twins could use some help from their younger players in 2012. It looks like that could get exactly that out of these six rookies:

Joe Benson: 24-year old righty swinging outfielder Joe Benson comes into this season as the Twins’ #2 prospect according to Baseball America. He played in 21 games for the Twins last year and he was 17 of 71 (.239 avg, .622 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 0 homers, 2 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Benson played in 114 games in Rookie+AA-ball last year and he was 116 of 409 (.284 avg, .879 OPS) with 71 runs scored, 16 homers, 67 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. He has now played in 570 games in his first six years in the minors and he is 540 of 2,037 (.265 avg, .803 OPS) with 343 runs scored, 62 homers, 252 RBIs and 93 stolen bases. Benson could break into the Twins’ outfield at some point in 2012.

Liam Hendriks: 23-year old righty starting pitcher Liam Hendriks comes into this season as the Twins’ #7 prospect according to Baseball America. Hendriks pitched in 4 games (all starts) for the Twins last year and he was 0-2 with a 6.17 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He also pitched in 25 games (24 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 12-6 with a 3.36 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. Hendriks has now pitched in 68 games (66 starts) in his first four years in the minors and he is 29-17 with a 2.78 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. Hendriks is likely going to start the 2012 season in the Twins’ starting rotation.

Kyle Gibson: 24-year old righty starting pitcher Kyle Gibson comes into this season as the Twins’ #8 prospect according to Baseball America. He pitched in 18 games (all starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 3-8 with a 4.81 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. Gibson has now pitched in 44 games (all starts) in his first two years in the minors and he is 14-14 with a 3.68 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Gibson had Tommy John Surgery last July, so he won’t be pitching until late in the season.

Chris Parmelee: 24-year old lefty swinging 1B Chris Parmelee comes into this season as the Twins’ #9 prospect according to Baseball America. He played in 21 games for the Twins last year and he was 27 of 76 (.355 avg, 1.035 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 4 homers and 14 RBIs. He also played in 142 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 152 of 530 (.287 avg, .801 OPS) with 76 runs scored, 13 homers and 83 RBIs. Parmelee has now played in 651 games in his first six years in the minors and he is 376 of 1,124 (.307 avg, .802 OPS) with 325 runs scored, 74 homers, 370 RBIs and 19 stolen bases. Parmelee is entering the 2012 season as the Twins’ starting 1B, with Justin Morneau moving to DH.

Brian Dozier: 24-year old righty swinging 2B/SS Brian Dozier comes into this season as the Twins’ #10 prospect according to Baseball America. Dozier played in 127 games in A+AA-ball last year and he was 157 of 491 (.320 avg, .890 OPS) with 92 runs scored, 9 homers, 56 RBIs and 24 stolen bases. He has now played in 317 games in his first three years in the minors and he is 376 of 1,224 (.307 avg, .802 OPS) with 199 runs scored, 14 homers, 129 RBIs and 43 stolen bases. Dozier could make it to Minnesota in 2012, if he keeps playing like he did in 2011.

Lester Oliveros: 23-year old righty reliever Lester Oliveros comes into this season as the Twins’ #26 prospect according to Baseball America. Oliveros pitched in 10 games (0 starts) for the Twins last year and he was 0-0 with a 4.05 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He pitched in 19 games (0 starts) overall for the Tigers & Twins last year in which he was 0-0 with a 4.64 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He also pitched in 34 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 3-3 with 5 saves, a 4.12 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. Oliveros has now pitched in 180 games (2 starts) in his first six years in the minors and he is 13-14 with 57 saves, a 3.21 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Oliveros could help the Twins out of the pen in 2012.

21-year old righty reliever/starter Ezequiel Zarzuela has been suspended for 50 games due to testing positive for performance enhancing drugs. Zarzuela pitched in 19 games (0 starts) in Rookie ball last year and he was 3-2 with 3 saves, a 2.60 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. He has now pitched in 31 games (11 starts) in his first two years in the minors and he is 10-5 with 3 saves, a 2.65 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. The Twins had plans of starting Zarzuela in A-ball in 2012, but those plans are likely on hold now.

20-year old righty reliever Yeison Florentino has been suspended for 50 games due to testing positive for performance enhancing drugs. Florentino pitched in 20 games (0 starts) in Rookie-ball last year and he was 1-2 with 3 saves, a 3.16 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. He has now pitched in 32 games (1 start) in his first two years in the minors and he is 2-4 with 3 saves, a 2.98 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP. This has got to be disappointing to the Twins, who were likely to start him in A-ball this year.

25-year old lefty reliever Andrew Albers has been outstanding so far this year in the minors for the Twins. Albers has pitched in 30 games (4 starts) in A+AA-ball so far this year and he is 7-2 with 4 saves, a 2.38 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. Albers has only walked 11 batters in his first 75 2/3 innings so he is in tune with the Twins’ organizational philosophy of throwing strikes. Albers has now pitched in 75 games (6 starts) in his first three years in the minors and he is 11-2 with 21 saves, a 1.86 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. If he keeps pitching like he is right now, the Twins are going to save him a spot in the pen in the near future.